Will be doing a renovation and hiring a PE to double check all this, but interested in thoughts first (for budgeting!): we are not sure if this is a load bearing wall. Wall in question is in photo 3 below, attached to existing railing in that photo.
Roof is wood trusses, house built in 1977 (Canada), and there is a kitchen wall underneath that runs perpendicular to trusses but is off centre of trusses (as seen in the railing photo attached). Plus the wall does not run full length of roof/trusses, it only supports about two thirds of roof as at far end it opens up for free flow dining room to living room. BUT complicating matters there is a single post in basement under the wall, though where it comes up supports the middle of a double-wide cold air return (centred between the two tapemarks in ‘flashlight’ photo) so we are not certain if the post is part of a load bearing element too or what its purpose is in basement.
One renovation company quoting the broader reno job says wall in question is ‘probably not load bearing but engineer would say for sure’, while another renovation co quoting says they are 99% sure wall IS load bearing partly because of existence of that post in basement. We meanwhile are trying to anticipate what options we can consider if it is load bearing as we still plan to have a wall under that roof, running same length, but our plan is to move wall to left two feet. As can be seen the in photo showing alignment of truss and wall (took photo looking straight on at truss): at present the wall is to right of centre of truss, while in our prelim reno plan we would move it two feet to left - to widen kitchen - and as a result the wall would run in same orientation and still be off centre from centre of truss, just now a foot to left of centre instead of a foot to right. New potential wall location can be seen in the taped double line demarcating the wall, on carpeted floor (behind the 'Cook’top and 'Ov’en). But we hadn’t planned on putting a new post in basement (though maybe that is necessary to make this all work?) Would appreicate any thoughts on this - I know only an engineer can say for certain based on site visit, but I would like to be modestly informed ahead of time since I as a homeowner haven’t had to deal with this type of renovation before and want to have some gauge whether this is $ or $$$$$! (and to know what questions to ask or things to consider) Thanks in advance.
PS Other than the aforementioned cold air return running perpendicular under that wall, no other things in that wall besides electrical - no plumbing stack or venting etc.
a STANDARD Truss does not require a load bearing wall. The whole point of a truss is to bear the entire load to the outermost points of bearing ie in a standard truss; the opposing heels of the truss located over the opposing exterior walls. Walls located under truss are strictly for space division. Post in basement deals with beam bearing floor load and has nothing to do with roof.
With this little knowledge of building and structure, which is completely understandable when you are not in the contracting/building trades, I strongly recommend you hire an architect for your first reno design. They can advise and walk you through the process, yes it will cost more but it will come out right and you will learn valuable information as well as make contacts with good and recommended contractors.
Sincerely believe me as a builder for over forty years and a home inspector for 12 of those I have had to go in and repair or report on many DIY run renos that went wrong to dangerously wrong.
Good luck
Mr. Grant thanks very much for your reply, I see my wording implied I may be doing the reno - rest assured we will be hiring a firm to do the reno and manage this process. As mentioned, no matter which reno firm we go with they will likely engage a professional engineer to double check the roof and other elements of design before work commences, but I like being pre-armed with some minimal knowledge about it all. (I like being educated on what I am shelling out the dollars for!) Everything will definitely be done above board and up to current code, or rather I will be trusting the professionals I employ to ensure it is done as such.
Perform your own due diligence with professionals that are on site. No professional in their right mind is going to give you free advice from a picture.
Thanks for your feedback. If you hadn’t leaped to a conclusion, you may have read that I am not looking for advice to do this myself at all, I am trying to understand more about my house.
I am not taking out or keeping this wall based on forum advice, that would be crazy, I’m merely trying to understand the concept so I can better assess the on site professionals giving me advice. Already I have had two people from construction industry give me differing opinions on it - one says it is load bearing for sure while another says it is likely not, you can understand how I would want to learn more about the concept. While the final decision is going to be made by a professional engineer on site, this forum seems suitable to solicit opinions from the educated members here.
I had the house inspected and $700 later my home inspection report that says nothing about this wall or load bearing measures or pillars etc. Not that it was the point I understand, but these are the types of questions that come up afterward. If I had asked the inspector my guess is he likely would have given a non committal answer to check with a professional engineer anyhow. But what good is the internet if not to solicit advice from far-flung ‘resident experts’? Thanks.
Mr. Bond,
You would do well to assume nothing (See underlined/bolded above) and to hire your own representative to verify the work before and after it commences. Many Home Inspectors do “Phase” type inspections because builders and code inspectors are human and miss things, along the way.
Good Luck!
Good for you to take due diligence (trying to learn before you hire) in your project.
Listen to Bruce and trust what Larry says as there are a lot of contractors that will take your money and leave you with a big mess, trust me on this. I have seen as well as others here I am sure have some really unbelievable things.
Be sure that they are on the same page with you and hire an inspector and an attorney to help lay things out before your house gets started on. If things don’t look right or seem right stop the project or get someone quick (inspector) to look at it.
Furthermore take photos and plenty of them and from different angles during the project, this will help later if needed and before things get covered.
